Thread: Lesco Stander 34 Mulch plate

Got tired of my local JD dealers wanting an arm and a leg for mulch kits that consist of only a mulch plate (they think). How can you not know? Then they go on to tell me that they've installed them before and they typically have to be coaxed into place, meaning they will beat the tar out of my mower to get it on.

I decided to have an alternative fabbed out of 1/4inch steel. Swing up mulch plate. Remove one bolt, retighten the top bolt (not currently installed), and it can go back to side discharging. Alternatively, I've also thought about leaving it with the single bolt installed, and having it swing up, (lamborghini door style) To allow side discharge. Thats the scenario installed now. No tools, an it will stay down when you are mulching.

It really lets me use it as a 34 now, since the huge side discharge chute would make me get off (or lean down), to pull it up to clear gates. I just had my mower serviced, and they didn't carry Gators, so I put on a generic high lift blade, as that was all they had that would fit. Right now, this mower with a mulch plate throws dust and debris forward, right into your face during leaf season. I'm hoping this is caused by my use of the high lift, and the Gatorblades will help.

Any suggestions on the operation? What would you guys prefer on a mulch plate? Thanks in advance for the feedback, but I can't stand paying so much if the Lesco kit is just a substandard plate!

That's what I would have thought as well, however the JD dealer couldn't tell me if it had baffles or not. He said many he has seen only arrive as an expensive mulch plate, and I wasn't going to risk special ordering an expensive plate and bolts.